ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Finance
DRI seizes 32 Kg. Of Gold worth Rs 10.32 Crore in one of the biggest seizures of Smuggled Gold in Recent past in East and Northeast India
Acting on an specific intelligence, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence  have effected a seizure of 32 kgs of foreign origin gold valued at Rs 10.32 Crore, smuggled from China into India through the Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim.
The DRI received a tip off that a huge quantity of Gold of foreign origin that has been smuggled into India from China through Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim would find its way to Kolkata via Siliguri and would be carried by three persons who would be travelling by a hired vehicle from Gangtok to Siliguri and would there after go to Kolkata by train for the ultimate delivery of the same.
Acting on the said tip off, the officers of DRI led strict surveillance over the area on Sevoke Road, Siliguri, Near Payal Cinema Hall where they intercepted a white colour Maruti Wagon R on 23:15 hrs. Of 31.05.2018. On preliminary enquiry, it was found that the Wagon R vehicle was taken on hire by three passengers. All these three passengers are natives of Maharashtra and they had hired the vehicle for their journey from Siliguri to Gangtok and back.
On preliminary enquiry, the three intercepted persons admitted the fact that they were carrying in their persons gold bars of foreign origin that had been smuggled into India from China through Indo-China Border in the State of Sikkim. All the three persons were taken to DRI office at Siliguri where, on search, three specially tailored cloth belts having several pockets and secured by metal Zip fasteners were found to be fastened around their waist. On opening of the said belts, a total of 32 pcs of primary gold bars bearing foreign inscription were recovered. Each of the gold bars was found to weigh 1 kg, bringing the total haul to 32 kgs.
On further enquiry it revealed that the intercepted persons have temporary residence at Siliguri which too was searched by the DRI officers in the early morning of 01.06.2018 from where Indian Currency worth Rs.20,19,850/- was recovered which the intercepted persons identified as being a part of sale proceed of smuggled gold.
The total seizure value has arrived at Rs.10,52,91,750/-
This is one of the biggest Gold seizure by DRI in the recent past in East and North-East India. In the current financial year, starting from 01/04/2018 till date, in the region spread over West Bengal and the North eastern states, the DRI has seized over 137 kg of Gold and Gold Jewellery valued at close to Rs. 24 Crores in the market, smuggled from Bangladesh, Myanmar ,Bhutan and even from China.
In the previous financial year , DRI has seized close to 430 kgs of Gold and Gold Jewelry in the East and North East region collectively valued at more than Rs 100 Crores.
DRI remains committed to combating all types of cross border crime
involving smuggling of gold, consumer goods, drugs and narcotics, wild life articles, Fake Indian Currency Notes and counterfeit goods, import-export frauds and trade based money laundering.
Competition Commission of India
CCI imposes penalty on maritime transport companies for indulging in cartelisation
The Competition Commission of India  passed a final order against four maritime transport companies namely Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha , Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. , Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.  and Nissan Motor Car Carrier Company  for indulging in cartelisation in the provision of maritime motor vehicle transport services to automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers  for various trade routes. Amongst these four companies, NYK Line, MOL and NMCC were lesser penalty applicants before CCI.
The evaluation of available evidence revealed that there was an agreement between NYK Line, K-Line, MOL and NMCC with the objective of enforcement of “Respect Rule”, which implied avoiding competition with each other and protecting the business of incumbent carrier with the respective OEM. To achieve the said objective, the maritime transport companies resorted to multi-lateral as well as bilateral contacts/ meetings/ e-mails with each other to share commercially sensitive information which, inter alia, included freight rates. They also aimed to preserve their position in the market and maintain or increase prices, including by resisting requests for price reduction from certain OEMs.
Accordingly, based on a cumulative assessment of the evidence, the Commission held all the four opposite parties, i.e., NYK Line, K-Line, MOL and NMCC, guilty of contravention of the provisions of Section 3 of the Competition Act, 2002 , which prohibits anti-competitive agreements including cartels, from 2009 to 2012. Further, 14 individuals of NYK Line, 10 individuals of K-Line, 6 individuals of MOL and 3 individuals of NMCC, were also held liable for the anti-competitive conduct of their respective companies, in terms of the provisions of Section 48 of the Act.
As three companies filed lesser penalty applications, the Commission gave benefit of reduction in penalty by 100% to NYK Line and its individuals, 50% to MOL and its individuals and 30% to NMCC and its individuals. Accordingly, the Commission directed K-Line, MOL and NMCC to pay penalties to the tune of approx. INR 24.23 crores, INR 10.12 crores and INR 28.69 crores respectively, besides passing a cease-and-desist order.
Ministry of Finance
CBDT constitutes Start-up Cell for redressal of grievances related to Start-ups
One of the measures pertaining to taxation announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister as part of the several measures to boost the economy, was the withdrawal of ‘Angel Tax’ provisions for Start-ups and their investors. As part of the measures for mitigating the genuine difficulties of Start-ups, it was decided that a dedicated cell would be set up under a Member of CBDT for addressing the specific problems of Start-ups.
In order to redress grievances and address various tax related issues in the cases of Start-ups, a Start-up Cell has been constituted by CBDT on 30.08.2019 with the following ex-officio members:
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The Cell will work towards redressal of grievances and mitigate tax-related issues in case of Start-up entities with respect to administration of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Grievances relating to Start-ups may be filed with the O/o Under Secretary, ITA-I, Room No.245A, North Block, New Delhi – 110001 as well as online at startupcell.cbdt[at]gov[dot]in. The Cell will also be accessible telephonically on 011-23095479 /23093070 .
Start-up entities can approach the Cell for speedy resolution of their grievances. This initiative is the latest amongst the recent initiatives taken by CBDT to further ease the compliance issues pertaining to Start-ups.
Ministry of Finance
CBDT allows taxpayers an opportunity to file application for settlement
The Finance Act, 2021 has amended the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961  to inter alia provide that the Income-tax Settlement Commission  shall cease to operate with effect from 01.02.2021. Further, it has also been provided that no application for settlement can be filed on or after 01.02.2021, which was the date on which the Finance Bill, 2021 was laid before the Lok Sabha. In order to dispose off the pending settlement applications as on 31.01.2021, the Central Government has constituted Interim Board for Settlement , vide Notification no. 91 of 2021 dated 10.08.2021. The taxpayers, in the pending cases, have the option to withdraw their applications within the specified time and intimate the Assessing Officer about such withdrawal.
It has been represented that a number of taxpayers were in advanced stages of filing their application for settlement before the ITSC as on 01.02.2021. Further, some taxpayers have approached High Courts requesting that their applications for settlement may be accepted. In some cases, the Hon’ble High Courts have given interim relief and directed acceptance of applications of settlement even after 01.02.2021. This has resulted in uncertainty and protracted litigation.
In order to provide relief to the taxpayers who were eligible to file application as on 31.01.2021, but could not file the same due to cessation of ITSC vide Finance Act, 2021, it has been decided that applications for settlement can be filed by the taxpayers by 30th September, 2021 before the Interim Board if the following conditions are satisfied:-
- The assessee was eligible to file application for settlement on 31.01.2021 for the assessment years for which the application is sought to be filed ; and
- all the relevant assessment proceedings of the assessee are pending as on the date of filing the application for settlement.
Such applications, subject to their validity, shall be deemed to be “pending applications” under clause  of section 245A of the Act and shall be disposed of by the Interim Board as per the provisions of the Act.
It is clarified that taxpayers who have filed such applications shall not have the option to withdraw such applications as per the provisions of section 245M of the Act. Further, the taxpayers who have already filed application for settlement on or after 01.02.2021 as per the direction of the various High Courts and who are otherwise eligible to file such application, as per para 3 above, on the date of filing of the said application shall not be required to file such application again.
Legislative amendments in this regard shall be proposed in due course.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Rabies Vaccination
Under National Rabies Control programme funds are not provided for procurement of Anti- Rabies vaccine. Funds under NRCP are only provided for training, surveillance, laboratory strengthening and advocacy etc. However for rabies vaccination all the states/UTs have been communicated to include Anti- Rabies vaccine  and Anti Rabies serum  under essential drug list and to undertake the procurement of ARV and ARS under National Free Drug service initiative under National Health Mission.
As there is rabies elimination drive by 2030 globally, there is significant demand of Anti Rabies Vaccine and Serum from the neighboring courtiers like Myanmar, Malaysia and Philippines and these countries are importing vaccine from India.Many states and stakeholders have pointed out that preferential export of ARV by Indian Manufactures at escalated prices to the neighboring countries has resulted in nonresponse and non-participation by the manufactures in domestic tenders.
Drug Controller General of India  was directed to monitor the pharmaceutical firms producing ARV for ensuring regular supply of ARV to the States. DCGI requested all the manufacturers to furnish monthly details of the quantities of ARV manufactured, exported, sold in the domestic market and supplied to the government institutions.
All the rabies vaccine manufacturers were also requested to ensure that the manufacturing of ARV is carried out with full capacity and first preference may be accorded to meet domestic requirements including Government Institutional supplies in the country.
The Minister of State , ShAshwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves establishment of Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri
Jurisdiction over four districts – Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri. It will have jurisdiction over four districts namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar.
The decision comes in the backdrop of the decision of the Calcutta High Court Full Court Meeting in 1988, Cabinet Decision on 16-6-2006 which approved the setting up of Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri and the visit by a team of Judges led by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to the proposed site of the Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri on 30-08-2018 to assess the progress regarding the infrastructure facilities there.
AKT/SNC/SH
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Ministry of Women and Child Development
Poshan Maah 2022: 'Healthy Recipe Competitions’ Organized In Manipur
Minister Of State, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel Visits The Pavilion Of ‘Healthy Recipe Competitions’
Shri Prahlad Singh Patel Also Reviews The Developmental Works Taken Up In Chandel, Manipur Under ‘Aspirational District Programme’
As part of the Poshan Maah 2022 Celebrations, 'Healthy Recipe Competitions’ was organized in Manipur. The Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel visited Chandel, Manipur to review the developmental works taken up in Chandel under the ‘Aspirational District Programme’ on 20th September, 2022.
The Minister visited the pavilion of the District Level ‘Healthy Recipe Competitions’ organized by ICDS Cell, Chandel in collaboration with District Administration, Chandel. The Minister inspected the stalls and interacted with the participating girls about the various nutritious dishes prepared by them. The competitions for Junior Chef and Budding Chef were meant for pre-school children and adolescent girls respectively.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 from 1st to 30th September, 2022. This year, the objective is to trigger Poshan Maah through Gram Panchayats as Poshan Panchayats with key focus on “Mahila aur Swasthya” and “Bacha aur Shiksha”. The month-long event is witnessing intensive activities across the country for awareness about nutrition at the ground level through sensitization drives, outreach programmes, identification drives, camps and fairs with special focus on pregnant and lactating women, children below six years and adolescent girls, in order to realise the vision of ‘Swasth Bharat’.
Ministry of Rural Development
Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh says, The Centre today asserted that that it is fully committed to ensure the wage payment to every beneficiary of the MGNREGA Scheme
The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh took a high level meeting of the Ministry officials and directed them to have mixed model for payment route to the rural jobs scheme beneficiaries up to 31st March, 2023
The Centre today asserted that that it is fully committed to ensure the wage payment to every beneficiary of the MGNREGA Scheme.
The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh took a high level meeting of the Ministry officials and directed them to have mixed model for payment route to the rural jobs scheme beneficiaries up to 31st March, 2023. He said, the payment of wages to every beneficiary under Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme is being done using ABPS as well as NACH depending upon the ABPS status of the beneficiary.
It may be underlined that NACH Credit is an electronic payment service used by an institution for affording credits to a large number of beneficiaries in their bank accounts for the payment of dividend, interest, salary, pension etc. by raising a single debit to the bank account of the User Institution .
The Aadhaar Based Payment System  as one of the routes for wage payment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS has been introduced for timely payment of wages. The system ensures that there will be no delay in payments due to bank account related problems. The system also ensures transparency towards the payment of the workers. Aadhaar seeding and ABPS are in place under the scheme since 2017.
The number of active workers under Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme is 14.96 crore. Government of India is committed towards ensuring timely wage payment of each worker under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Out of 14.96 crore workers, Aadhaar seeding of 14.27 crore workers  has been done in NREGASoft, in which a total of 10.05 crore workers have been registered under the Aadhaar Based Payment System .
There were a total of 4.60 crore transactions in the month of February 2023 for wage payment, out of which 3.57 crore transactions  were made through ABPS.
Government has decided, on the request of States, that to have mixed model for payment route up to 31st March, 2023. The payment of wages to every beneficiary under Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme is being done using ABPS as well as NACH depending upon the ABPS status of the beneficiary.
There are two routes to be used in payment of wages-first is ABPS- If beneficiary is linked with ABPS then payment can be made through ABPS only, and other is NACH- If beneficiary is not linked with ABPS due to some technical reasons etc. then Program Officer can select NACH as the mode of payment of wages.
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SNC/PK/SM
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Prime Minister's Office
PM visits Agartala,
Inaugurates Garjee - Belonia Railway Line
Various development projects unveiled for Tripura
HIRA model of development - Highway, I Way, Railway, Airway is on in Tripura, says PM
Prime Minister visited Agartala today in the third and final leg of his day long tour to Assam, Arunachal and Tripura. He inaugurated Garjee -
Belonia Railway Line and several other development projects in the state.
Prime Minister unveiled the statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur at
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, Agartala. Lauding the role of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore, he said that Maharaja had a vision for Tripura and he contributed greatly to
build the city of Agartala. PM said that he felt proud to unveil his statue.
About the development in Tripura, PM told that the progress is now on a new trajectory. Government has allocated enough funds over the last four and a half years for the development of Tripura. He said that he heard that for the first time in history, crops were procured on MSP prices.
PM dedicated to the nation Garjee - Belonia Railway Line through unveiling of plaque at
Swami Vivekananda Stadium here. This line will boost Tripura as the gateway to South and
Southeast Asia. He inaugurated the New Complex of Tripura Institute of Technology at Narsingarh
During the event , PM recalled that during elections when he came here, he
advocated about HIRA model of development i.e Highway, I Way, Railway, Airway.
Agartala Sabroom National Highway, Humsafar Express, Agartala Deoghar Express, New
Terminal at Agartala are part of this model.
Speaking about the cleanup of ghost beneficiaries, PM said that earlier the development existed only on paper. He added that “I heard that there are around 62000 beneficiaries in Tripura alone. These people were taking your money." However, over the last four and a half years around 8 crore ghost beneficiaries have been taken out of the system.
Underlining his commitment towards the farmers and informal sector, PM said that through Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Pension Yojana, labourers in
unorganized sector after 60 years of age will get Rs.3000 per month as pension. Through PM
Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, farmers with less than 5 acres will get Rs 6000 per annum in
their bank accounts. Separate department for Fisheries will greatly benefit the fishermen.
These steps are a reflection of the intent of the Government, he added.
Prime Minister returns to New Delhi after the day long visit to the three NE States. He will be visiting Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka tomorrow.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA PAYS HOMAGE TO NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE ON HIS BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today  which is being celebrated as Parakram Diwas. She paid floral tributes in front of a portrait of Netaji at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 116.50Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 15.54 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccinemanufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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1,16,50,39,765
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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15,54,54,451
More than116.50crore vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than15.54Cr balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
DGCA ensures timely corrective action on deficiencies noted during oversight of certified operators and maintenance of record thereof
Government has sensitized the scheduled airlines to give utmost importance to air safety
As per the provisions contained in Aircraft  Rules, the air accidents are investigated by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau  and safety recommendations as per investigation report are forwarded to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation . The appropriate action on implementation of recommendations made in the investigation reports are taken by DGCA to ensure safety of air operations.
M/s Spicejet experienced a series of occurrences during operation of their aircraft fleet attributable to malfunction of components, bad weather, bird strike, etc. A special drive of spot checks were conducted from 2nd May 2022 till 6th June 2022. During the period a total of 300 aircraft were inspected which included 62 operational aircraft of M/s Spicejet fleet. The spot checks raised findings which were corrected by the Airlines. Another series of spot checks were carried out on all operating aircraft of M/s Spicejet from 9th July 2022 to 13th July 2022 wherein 53 spot checks were carried out on 48 aircraft which did not raise any significant finding or safety violations. However, as an abundant safety measure, DGCA ordered M/s Spicejet to release certain identified aircraft  for operations only after confirming that all reported defects/malfunctions are rectified.
DGCA, further issued an interim order to M/s Spicejet on 27.07.2022, wherein for the continued sustenance of safe and reliable air transport service, the number of departures of M/s Spicejet have been restricted to 50% of the number of departures approved under summer schedule 2022 for a period of 8 weeks.
DGCA ensures timely corrective action on deficiencies noted during oversight of certified operators and maintenance of record thereof. There have been no lapses and hence no action is pending against officials. The Government has sensitized the scheduled airlines to give utmost importance to safety of operations and has taken various steps which inter-alia include:
. Scheduled Airlines have been asked to increase their engineering related capabilities at all base stations and transit stations.
. Special audits and spot checks have been ordered by DGCA
. Airlines have been asked to take appropriate mitigation action and greater internal surveillance to ensure safety of air operations.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen.  V. K. Singh  in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.